Month: December 2019

#Destiny Harrison: Baltimore Salon Owner Slain

by Queen SueSue, posted in Around The World Saturdays, Fashion/Beauty

Image Credit: News Break

We lost an astounding, ambitious, go-getter in the fashion/beauty world. Destiny Harrison was a visionary ahead of her time. By the age of 21, Destiny was a licensed cosmetologist and owned a beauty salon that she built from the ground up. With so many triumphs at such a young age, no one expected a tragedy to occur.

The Madam D Beauty Bar Inventor

Destiny Harrison was born in Maryland on April 16, 1998. As a child, she always had a love for hair. She would spend her time attempting to do cosmetology for family and friends. As a teenager, she attended a vocational high school in Baltimore and got her certification as a hairstylist. She was a hustler. She worked at Popeyes, Walmart, and did her peers’ hair on the side. She was well known as the girl who could hook you up with fresh bundles, weave, and some nice edges. Right out of high school she attended University. Her major was business administration with a minor in fashion. She consistently marketed herself, once posting on Instagram “I wanna be so well known in this hair industry that I will no longer have to introduce myself.”

With years and years of practice under her belt, Destiny became a successful licensed business owner. Even with her juggling a business, she still managed to maintain good grades in school. Many of her clients adored her. Her social media accounts are filled with positive feedback for her work.

By 2017, she launched the Madam D Collection website, which displayed units, bundles, weave, and many hair care products that sold well. Having a successful online store takes a lot of patience, perseverance, and hard work. By 2018 her prosperity increased because she was seen mingling with celebrity hairstylists like Shekinah. One of the Clermont Twins had her ponytail done by her. By the end of 2018, she gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter and named her Dream. Her salon was opened, and her brand expanded.

Salon Owner Feared “For Her Life And Business”

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Image credit: Earkandy Radio

Baltimore is notorious for its high crime rate. Many news reports state that it is on track to reach the highest per capita murder record in the nation. What is most unfortunate to know though, is that a lot of local business owners are being targeted for heinous crimes.

On Dec. 9th, Baltimore salon owner Destiny filed a police report. While working in her salon, Destiny saw intruders inside of her business stealing weave. When she approached them, they attacked her. She sought a protection order. “I fear for my life and my business”, she stated in her police report. The people involved with the attack were her neighbors. The female that assaulted her while she was pinned down is a hair and makeup stylist herself.

After charges were pressed, Destiny was enraged and filled with fear every time she went to work. An environment she once loved became an unsafe ground. On Dec. 21st in the evening, another intrusion happened at her business. The intruder was equipped with a gun and fatally shot Destiny in front of her clients. Her baby daughter Dream also witnessed this horrendous crime. Two men fled the shop with $3000 worth of bundles. No arrest for the murderer has been done yet. Dream is currently with her grandmother, but will forever have to live with the emotional scars of losing her mother.

“It’s unbelievable that some evil soul would do something like this,” said her uncle Dewine McQueen.

Her mother created a GoFund Me page which states: “We lost an angel due to tragedy that broke hearts all over Baltimore. We are asking that if anyone has any monetary donations we would greatly appreciate the help to lay my beautiful daughter in peace.”

If you have any information about Destiny’s death please contact homicide detectives at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

Sources : https://thegrio.com/2019/12/25/destiny-harrison-baltimore-slain-business-owner/

GoFund Me Page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/destiny-harrison-funeral

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Ten Affordable Products You Can Use On 4C Hair

by Queen SueSue, posted in Fashion/Beauty, Thrifty Thursdays

Are you just entering the world of natural hair? Are you worried about wearing your curls because of the maintenance involved? Once you have a clear understanding of what 4c hair is and know what products you can buy at a low cost, navigating the world of natural hair will become easier. You will learn to love your 4c hair.

Understanding 4C Hair

In the beauty world, hair types are put into categories. The sections range from Type 2 to 4. Hair type 2 is relatively straight hair. Hair type 3 consists of wavy curl patterns.Hair type 4 curls are more profound. Their distinct curls can be compared to a Z.

Within each hair type, there are subcategories. Type 4 subcategories are 4A, 4B, and 4C. Tightly coiled type 4 curls are harder to take care of because of how fragile tight curls can be. Type 4c hair is the most challenging type of hair because it is coarse, needs constant moisture, swiftly can get dry, can shrink quickly from humidity, and does not have many definitions. In this context, the term definition means varied forms of change. When you wash other types of hair with no products added, the hair might be easier to manage. When it comes to 4c hair though, hair washes alone will not take the kinks out. This type of hair also has a shrinkage of more than 75 percent. So even if your hair has grown three inches, it may only look like 1 inch of growth unless you use a stretching technique.

Hair Products That You Can Afford For Natural Hair

It is universally known that 4C hair is the most fragile so it can easily damage or break. It can be compared to a delicate vase or fine china. When you are moving and packing glass, you make sure that the glass is covered with large amounts of newspaper or tissue so that the glass does not shatter. Likewise, those of us with 4c hair that is constantly on the go must protect our delicate strands with hydration and moisture.

  1. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar With The Mother 
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    Image Credit: Amazon

    Apple Cider Vinegar is a big savior that is praised by many natural hair care bloggers. What makes it ideal is the fact that it is a safer alternative to traditional shampoos. It has no harsh chemicals and does not strip the hair of its natural curls. You have to dilute it with water before rinsing it through your hair. You can buy it from Amazon for only $8.16.

  2. Indian Healing Clay 100% Natural Bentonite Clay
    revelist
    Image Credit : Revelist

    Bentonite Clay has been raved about because it effectively removes build-up from your hair. It adds definition to your coils and can leave your hair feeling soft. It can be brought from Amazon for $10.95.

  3. Africa’s Best Hair Mayonnaise
    africamayonnaise
    Image Credit: Africa’s Best Hair

    This product sells at many beauty supply stores for about $4. It is a deep conditioner full of olive oil and egg protein. It is designed to seal in moisture and strengthen your hair.

  4. Mega Moist Conditioner
    ausiie
    Image Credit : Amazon

    Priced at 4.94 at Walmart, this conditioner will protect your strands from extreme humidity. With ingredients like Australian aloe, sea kelp, and jojoba oil, detangling will be easy.

  5. African Shea Butter 100% Natural
    africasheabutter
    Image Credit: Amazon

    Shea Butter is a great sealant for kinky hair. Some say that it is most effective when used in its raw form. If you apply it from the root to the tip while your hair is still wet it will lock in moisture. You can buy it on Amazon for $5.39.

  6. Hollywood Beauty Olive Oilolive oil A hair product that can be found in many beauty supply stores, this oil is a great scalp treatment that will not clog your pores. It can be purchased on Amazon for $9.93.
  7. Jamaican Black Castor Oil Jamaicanblack This is a must-have for 4c hair types. The texture is very dense which guarantees that your moisture will be locked in. Rubbing it regularly into your scalp promotes hair growth. You can find it on Amazon for $12.34.
  8. Keratin and Green Tea Restructurizerkeratin This product is sold at Sally Beauty for $6.69. The keratin protein stops breakage, builds body, and protects color.
  9. Creamy Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion
    creme of nature
    Image Credit : Amazon

    If you want to use heat styling on your hair, this lotion can protect against the high amount of heat. It also won’t leave any sticky buildup in your hair. It can be brought from Amazon.com for only $6.37.

  10. Wild Growth Hair Oil
    wild
    Image Credit : Facebook

    A personal favorite for many, this rich plant-based formula conditions and softens hard to manage hair. It promotes strong, thick hair growth and has many great reviews. It only costs $7.82 at Walmart.

” A black woman without her kinks is like a leopard without spots.”- Island Naturals

Did you like what you just read? Like, follow, and comment below. Share your thoughts. Message me for a free consultation if you need my writing services. 

Afro Puff Bubble Ponytails Are Trending

by Queen SueSue, posted in Fashion/Beauty, Woman Hair Crush Wednesdays

Photo: Pinterest

With winter in full effect, our Queens want a quick easy hairstyle that is gorgeous and protective. New natural hairstyles are popping up, and when examined closely you can tell that they are trying to mimic a tribal look. Afro puffs were hot back in the ’70s when a lot of women of color were fighting for civil rights and revolutionizing the way they wore their hair. Since the summer Afro Bubble Ponytails have been favored as the go-to protective hairstyle. Now with many people being “woke” to the discrimination that natural hairstyles face in the workplace, relaxers are becoming a thing of the past. Nobody wants to put on their strands creamy crack, so the versatility of our hair is now being showcased globally.

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Photo: Aliexpress

Why Relaxers Are No Longer Popular

For many years, Afro heads straightened their hair to get that exotic look. I remember I wore a relaxer on my hair until I became a teenager. I used to dread going to the hair salon because of the hairstylist’s facial expressions. What was not expressed in words was conveyed in body language. The task of getting through a thick head of 4c hair is not an easy one. By the time they reached the back of my hair, my scalp was already burning. Tears would fall from my eyes as they told me I still had to wait some more minutes before they washed it out. The burn you feel from having a relaxer in your hair for too long can be compared to taking a lighter and putting it on your scalp. I truly believe that hairstylists would leave the relaxer in my hair longer than what was recommended because my hair was so coarse. Scalp burns are not the only side effects of relaxers. Uterine fibroid also can result from perms.

The market research firm, Mintel, estimates that by 2020 will be the smallest area of the black hair market. Hair relaxer sales fell 38% between 2012-2017!

The early to mid-2000s saw a huge shift in how we perceived African beauty. Being a 90’s baby I noticed many R&B groups rocked a perm and/or long weaves. But by the early 2000s, Nollywood movies exploded in popularity and viewership. I notice that the standard of beauty in these movies was light makeup and natural hair. Even in Brazil, online searches for “Afro hair” have tripled in the last two years. So it is safe to say that natural hairstyles are trending and are here to stay.

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Photo: YouTube

Ponytail hairstyles are a great hairstyle to wear at the gym, work, or even a formal event. They help to keep your hair out of the way so you can focus on your daily routine. Nadula is an astounding hair company that offers affordable ponytail hair extensions. They have a buy one, get one 50% policy for those who purchase 2 of their ponytails. With their array of different curly textures, you can’t go wrong. Spice up your natural hair with Nadula’s ponytail weaves.

How To Achieve The Afro Puff Bubble Ponytail Look

Some like beads. Others like silver/golden hair clips. Whatever accessories you choose to use, just make sure you follow these steps correctly so that you can get the look that you desire.

  • First, part your hair into sections. Section your hair into the number of ponytails that you want. For a child, many of them like to rock smaller ponytails.
kidafro
Photo: 21Ninety
  • Second, apply the gel to the scalp of your sections. Hold each section down with rubber bands to keep the ponytail in place.
  • Next, add the Marley or Afro hair that you purchased to your natural hair. Lay it against your natural hair and keep your real hair in the middle. Skip this step if you are just using all of your own hair. Clip-ins are perfect for this look.
  • Lastly, twist the accessories around sections of your ponytail to create the “ball” look.

For a visual tutorial, here is a step by step instructions from YouTube content creator Nneoma Okorie:

You are smart. You are beautiful. You are important. To stay educated and inspired, follow my social networks for updates and fashion tips.

Sources: https://21ninety.com/learn-how-to-achieve-the-trendy-afro-bubble-ponytail

https://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/body-fashions/afro-hairstyle

View at Medium.com

Smart Ways To Save While Shopping For Beauty Products Online

by Queen SueSue, posted in Fashion/Beauty, Time And Money Management Tuesdays

You know the old saying: “A penny saved is a penny earned?” Well, through coupons online much can be saved if you are diligent and resourceful.

Where To Look For Online Coupon Codes

Every time you take a walk through the mall you might feel wary of making a purchase. So many items are overpriced. And forgetting paper coupons is easy to do. That is why many people are opting to shop online. RetailMeNot.com offers coupons that can create a happier shopping experience. Stores like QVC, Sam’s Beauty, Skin Store, and Beauty Brand is promoted on their website. Coupons.com is another great site that has categories in beauty and apparel brands. With the winter season upon us, women want to keep their skin glowing and moisturized. Harsh cold winds can cause extremely dry skin and chafing. L’oreal Paris, Cover Girl, and Macy’s are featured on coupon.com. These brands have cosmetics that can protect your skin. Groupon.com is another popular one that regularly gets promoted by celebrities. Advertisements on local beauty salons with discounts for hair services are easily accessible on their site. Their site is customized so that each user can find ways to save with local businesses. If you do not want to put forth the effort of searching different sites you can find a browser plug-in that will do all the work for you.

Be attentive though at the requirements for each coupon. Some coupon sites show success rates for their coupons, and it has been reported to be about 40-50%. So read what is the expiration date is and keep trying out different codes. This will help you to see before you purchase what works, and what does not.

Online Sites That Have Beauty Discounts

There are sites on the web that specialize in providing affordable beauty products. The most popular ones that stand out are Harmon Discount, Forever 21, and Madame Madeline. “Harmon Discount is my ultimate favorite. It’s super inexpensive for drugstore beauty products, so I buy everything in bulk,” says Ashlee Glazer, Laura Geller’s global artistic director. Maybelline, Revlon, CoverGirl, Neutrogena, and much more are sold with a deduction. Forever 21 is another well-known beauty store that houses low-cost products. “Forever 21 is another one of my favorite inexpensive places to shop for beauty,” says Glazer. “I love to buy makeup bags for travel and fun products (like lip glosses shaped like unicorns).” Madame Madeline is famous for eyelashes. “I love Madame Madeline for brand-name lashes at a discount,” says makeup artist Mary Irwin. And with mink lashes being in demand, many opt for a ghetto fabulous look that does not hurt their budget.

Keep in mind that some stores also offer price drop refunds. That means that if the price on the item you purchased drops a few days later, you can call and ask that they refund you the price difference. Check to see if your credit card offers price protection. Signing up for email alerts on various companies can also give you first dibs on sales.

Has any of these techniques assisted you in saving on online beauty products? Feel free to comment below. Also, follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more updates on fashion/beauty.

woman in brown and gray t shirt sitting on brown wooden table
Photo by Godisable Jacob on Pexels.com